Tu r n i n g t he Ti d e Hastings Trust Prospectus and Review 1991 HELPING PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT Contents Building on success 3 Objectives and review of progress 4 Pelham Crescent restoration 4 Old Town conservation 6 St Leonards conservation 8 Townscape improvement 10 Hastings Pier improvement 12 Regeneration practice improvement 13 Organisation 14 Finance 15 Project expenditure 16 People and organisations 18 Publications and exhibitions 19 Foreword by the Chairman, Richard Evans Manager, Business Sector, Barclays Business Centre, St Leonards on Sea. The Hastings Trust is an important new venture. It provides the means for involving the whole community in concerted action to improve one of Britain’s most historic and attractive coastal towns. Teamwork is the key to making the Trust effective and I particularly hope that the business sector will play an active role alongside the public and voluntary sectors in the years to come. Hastings has a great future if we can make the most of the opportunities; the Trust is here to do just that. I invite all who can to play a part by becoming members, volunteers or sponsors and look forward to working together to restore Hastings and St Leonards to their former glory. Foreword by the Leader of Hastings Borough Council, Councillor Pamela Brown Chairman, Hastings Urban Conservation Project, 1987-91. The Hastings Urban Conservation Project was created out of growing concern about the future of the town’s historic areas. But it was equally an acknowledgement of their exceptional character and quality. Remarkable progress has been made in the past five Front cover: years as can be seen from the pages that follow. The Project has played an important part Top left. Moving in: Setting up a project base in the in the enormous improvement of the town in recent years and thanks are due to all High Street of the Old Town, 1988. concerned. Public funding for the new Trust, set up to continue the Project’s work, will Top right. Tackling decay: Faulty rendering removed from a Regency seafront building at 51 Marina, St inevitably be hard to find in the present economic climate, but the Borough Council is Leonards, prior to structural reinforcement and re-rendering committed to providing as much support as possible. I look forward to seeing the with grant assistance, 1988. Hastings Trust flourish and fulfil its very great potential. Bottom left. Re-establishing respect for quality: Original nineteenth century Old Town shop facia at 9 George Street being restored with grant assistance after Message of support, Martin Bradshaw removal of a brash twentieth century sign board which had Director, Civic Trust. hidden it from view, 1990. Bottom right. Looking to the future: School children Rejuvenation of our urban areas is one of the most important tasks of our time. learning about their environment with the Project’s Imaginative new approaches are essential, especially those which harness the enthusiasm Education Officer, 1988. and skills of local people and create partnerships between the public, private and Back cover: voluntary sectors, and between professionals and laymen. The Hastings Trust – the Stade wardens employed by the Trust – with funds from formation of which the Civic Trust has been delighted to have supported – has set itself local voluntary, private and public organisations – working to improve the environment of Hastings’ traditional and a most challenging agenda. I wish it every success and will watch progress with great picturesque fishing industry, 1991. interest. 2 Building on success In 1986, Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council set up a joint initiative to turn the tide of neglect and decay then afflicting much of Hastings and St Leonards’ rich architectural heritage. It was called the Hastings Urban Conservation Project. Operating as an independent agency – from shop front headquarters in the heart of the historic Old Town – the Project’s brief was to improve the environment by involving local people and employing the most effective regeneration techniques available. Its strength lay in being able to act quickly and flexibly as a catalyst for a wide range of new economic, cultural and building activity. The annual budget was £100,000. A broad spectrum of programmes evolved over the Project’s five-year life which ended in March 1991. Restoration of over 100 buildings in key locations was assisted with five carefully targeted grant schemes. Several landscaping and pedestrianisation schemes were 1 devised and implemented. Dozens of voluntary amenity groups were assisted. Hundreds of people were involved in self-help events and educational programmes. Two conservation shops were opened, and new urban design strategies were conceived and set in motion. The combined impact of this activity has attracted substantial public and private investment into the town’s two outstanding conservation areas: the Old Town and Burtons’ St Leonards. It has also raised design and construction standards, increased environmental awareness, strengthened community spirit and boosted civic pride and confidence in the town as a whole. The Hastings Trust aims to build on this legacy, using the special characteristics of charitable trusts to attract additional support and take on new challenges. Community- based development trusts are now widely recognised nationally as a highly effective mechanism for urban regeneration. Many hurdles have yet to be faced. But the launch 2 of Hastings Trust in November 1991 will hopefully come to be seen as another important milestone in the distinguished history of the town first made famous by 1 Hastings Old Town High Street, 1987. William the Conqueror’s invasion of 1066. 2 Similar view in 1990 with some of the project’s staff, trainees, volunteers and This report reviews achievements to date and sets out objectives for future action. If you consultants. Grant assistance to owners has can help in any way, or would like further information, please contact us at the addresses improved the appearance of the street, including on the back cover. buildings in the foreground where the Trust’s main office and Conservation Shop are located. Conservation Areas in Hastings Growing public interest in urban conservation led to the number of Conservation Areas more than doubling in 1990. This will make it easier to preserve and improve the town’s scenic qualities in future. 1 Old Town 9 Cornwallis Gardens 2 Burtons’ St Leonards 10 Grosvenor Gardens 3 Blacklands 11 Magdalen Road 4 St Leonards West 12 Eversfield Place 5 St Leonards East 13 Markwick Terrace 6 St Leonards North 14 Springfield Road 7 Warrior Square 15 Tillington Terrace 8 White Rock 3 Pelham Crescent Restoration Objective 1: To complete the The full restoration of Pelham 1 (below) As it could be: Masterplan of restoration and improvement of the Crescent and Pelham Arcade is the desirable restoration work drawn up by the magnificent Regency architectural Trust’s top and main priority. This Trust’s project team, August 1991. This will be used as the basis for consultation and composition on the seafront will involve raising funds as well as fundraising. surrounding St Mary in the Castle resolving complex legal, technical Church. and management problems. 2, 3 As it was: Lithograph of Pelham Considerable progress has been made Arcade by C Hullmandel, 1828. Watercolour over the past 5 years but much from the foreshore by Lady Caroline Lucy “With St Mary in the Castle Church as its remains to be done. The Trust Scott, 1843. Now carved up into separate shop units, the Arcade was once a beautiful and centrepiece, Pelham Crescent is perhaps the intends to build on the links already fashionable rendezvous for visitors providing finest such architectural composition on the developed - with local residents, music, refreshments and a bazaar. south coast of England, and certainly the property owners, amenity societies, finest in Hastings. Dating from the reign of local authorities and national 4 Starting the Campaign: Daily Telegraph, King George IV, it is an early example of pressure groups - and launch a major 29 December 1986. a ‘comprehensive development’ containing public appeal to generate more 5 As it is now: Pelham Crescent in houses, shops, church and sea-water baths, momentum. At the same time it will September 1991 with Phase I of the Church all conceived as an entity.” continue to administer Town restoration complete but much still to do. Scheme restoration grants and Roger Murton, Design Adviser, promote other upgrading works. East Sussex County Council, 1991 Repair and clean Install historical Restoration of Crescent facades. plaques and general Arcade rooflight Restore original floodlighting scheme and, in the long decorative features. Regularise Crescent for Arcade, Crescent term, the original Replace front doors, chimneys and chimney pots. facades, Church, cliff Arcade beneath. railings and windows Removal of aerials and and Castle. as necessary. New dishes. Install new system painting schemes. for radio and TV reception. Removal of parking in Crescent forecourt. Repaving. Appropriate street furniture. Seating facing the sea. Traffic restrictions. Secure alternative parking for residents. Repair of steps. Development control and lease agreements to be Reinstatement of drawn up to ensure Arcade entrance. Restoration of comprehensive Arcade facade to regular maintenance New appropriate Removal of parking appropriate design. and prevent future streetlighting. on main road. Set back shop deterioration. Appropriate new fronts. Rationalise Rationalise rights paving and street shop signs. over, and furniture. Redesign Lighting scheme responsibilities for, crossing. inside colonnade. common areas. 4 The Rise, Fall and Rise again of Pelham Crescent 1824–1828 Construction by First Earl of Chichester. Architect: Joseph Kay. Early 1900s Terraces flanking Crescent demolished. Arcade divided up, facade altered, architectural unity lost. 1951 Listing of Pelham Crescent and church: Grade II*. 1960 Old Hastings Preservation Society undertakes restoration of Crescent facades.